Latch means for handbag frames



May-11, 1937. D. KARRON 2,079,806

LATCH MEANS FOR HANDBAG FRAMES Filed May 9, 1936 Patented May 11, 1937 UNi'rEsrA'ras rAT-ENT OFFICE I LATCH MEANS Foa HANDBAG FRAMES David Karton, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1936, Serial No. 78,844

. 12 Claims.

This invention relates to latch means for handbag frames and has for its general object and purpose to provide a novel and simply constructed latch means which may be easily and quickly operated to securely lock or hold the complementary frame members in closed position or release the same for relative opening movement, and which may be produced in a variety of ornamentally attractive forms.

More particularly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a slidable latching member and means for mounting the same upon the top of one of the bag frame members for longitudinal movement, said latch slide having means to coact with the other bag frame member and hold said frame members in closed position, and means automatically acting at the end of the movement of the latch slide in one direction to release the same from latching engagement with the frame members and permit relative movement of the latter to their open positions.

More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, I mount the latch slide on a metal trim plate secured to the top of one of the frame members Iand overlying and concealing the tops of both frame members when they are in cl-osed position, said trim plate4 having a free resiliently movable end portion, and cam means coacting with the latch slide when the latter is moved upon said end portion of the trim plate to displace said end portion of the trim plate and the latch slide relative to the frame members and release the latter for opening movement.

It is also an additional object of the invention to provide said trim plate at its opposite ends with suitable stops limiting movement of the latch slide in each direction, and said stops at the free end of the trim plate being constructed to coact with the two frame members and pro- Vde additional means for holding said frame members when in closed position against separation at one end of the frame.

With the above and other-objects in View, the invention consists in the improved latch means for handbag frames and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsef quently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have disclosed one simple and practical embodiment of my invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one conventional type of handbag frame provided with my improved latch means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the slidable latching member and the free end of the trim plate displaced from normal position to release the frame members.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View and Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a handbag provided with my novel latch means.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 and 6 respectively indicate the two relatively movable frame members hingedly connected with each other at their corresponding ends as indicated at l. These frame members may be Vof any one of the several standard constructions now in general use, in which each frame member is provided With a continuous channel in which the upper and side edges of the bag or pouch material indicated at 8 are securely xed. Each of these frame members has a continuous outer wall or flange shown at 9.

A trim plate I extends longitudinally over the entire top of the frame member and one end portion thereof is soldered, welded or otherwise securely iixed to the top flange of said frame `member as indicated at I I. Preferably, this nxed or secured portion of the trim strip extends for somewhat more than one-third of the length of the frame member. The remaining portion of said trim strip or plate I is free or unattached to the frame member and resiliently movable with respect to said frame member in the plane thereof. Preferably, the trim strip I0 is of such width that when the two bag frame members are in closed position, the edge portions of said trim strip project transversely beyond the respective frame members as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, so that the tops of said frame members will be completely concealed.

Upon the trim plate IB a latch member I2 is slidably mounted. The longitudinal edges of the plate I0 are rounded or convex and the opposite edges of the latch slide I2 are formed with inwardly facing channels I3 which snugly receive saidedges of the trim plate. This slide member l2 may be of various ornamental forms and one of the side flanges thereof extending beneath the plate II] is formed with a downwardly turned 1in or lip I4. However, this is not essential and, if desired, said n or lip may be omitted.

To one end of the latch slide I2 a nger piece I5 of any desired ornamental form is pivotally connected and aioids convenient means for sliding said member I 2 longitudinally along the trim plate ID.

At its fixed end the trim plate I0 is provided with a suitable stop lug I6 projecting downwardly from said plate which limits the sliding movement of the member I 2 in one direction.

At its other or free end the trim plate I0 on each of its side edges is formed with a downwardly and inwardly turned lug I1. These lugs in addition to acting as stops for limiting sliding movement of the member I2 in the opposite direction also extend over the edges of the flanges 9 of the two frame members when the latter are in closed position as seen in Fig. l. Therefore, when the member I2 is in its latching position at one end of the frame, these lugs I'I will prevent relative separation of said frame members at their other ends.

Adjacent to the latter end of the frame member 5, an upwardly projecting cam lug I8 is fixed to the top wall thereof and protrudes through a slot or opening I9 in the trim plate Iii.

From the above description, the operation of the device will be readily understood. When the latch member I2 is in the position seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the side anges of said member beneath the trim plate I0 are disposed in the plane of the top flanges 9 of the frame members 5 and 6, while the lugs I'I at the free end of said trim plate also overlap the edges of said ilanges. Thus, the two frame members are securely held in closed position. The n or lip I4 alfords additional security and is a precaution against possible separation of the frame members due to distortion or looseness in the hinge connections 'I.

When it is desired to open the handbag, by means of the finger piece I5, the member I2 is moved to the left along the trim plate I0 and upon the free or unsecured section of said trim plate. When the end of slide I2 strikes the curved edge of the cam lug IS and rides upwardly thereon, the unsecured section of the trim plate, together with slide I2, is forced or sprung upwardly from normal position in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing so that the side edgesof the member I2 and the n I4 will be positioned above the plane of the top flanges 9 of the two frame members and the lugs Il on the end of the trim plate will also be positioned above these flanges. The two frame members 5 and 6 may then be relatively moved to their open positions as indicated in Fig. 4 0f the drawing.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use'and the several advantages of my present invention will be clearly understood. It will be seen that the slide meml ber I2 may be easily and quickly actuated to securely lock the two frame members in closed position or release the same for opening movement. The trim plate I Il in addition to its function as apart of the latching means provides an ornamental and attractive nish for the bag frame, while the slide member I2 and the finger piece I5 can also be produced in a great variety of novel and attractive designs. It will be seen that my new frame latching device requires no radical changes in the standard construction of such bag frames as heretofore used in the art. The device itself is of very simple and inexpensive construction, and the trim plate I0 and the cam lug I8 can be readily attached to the bag frame member by simple mechanical operations.

I have disclosed herein a preferred mounting and arrangement of the tn'm plate and slide member I2 which has been found very satisfactory in practical use. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the essential features of my invention are susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative structural forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly comprehended within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch member mounted upon the top of said frame member for longitudinal sliding movement and having a part to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the same in closed position relative to said first frame member, and means xed to one frame member, and positively coacting with said latch member in its sliding movement in one direction, to move said latch member relative to the frame members and position said part whereby the frame members may be relatively moved to open position.

l2. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch member mounted upon the top of said frame member for longitudinal sliding movement and having a part to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the same in closed position relative to the first frame member, and relatively stationary means carried by the rst named frame member and positively coacting z with said latch member in its sliding movement in one direction to displace the same relative to the frame members whereby the latter may be moved to open position.

3. In combination with a bag frame member, L

a latch member mounted upon the top of said frame member for longitudinal sliding movement and having a part to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the same in closed position with respect to the first named frame member, a cam lug fixed to said rst named frame member, and positively coacting with the latch member in its sliding movement in one direction to lift said latch member to an unlatching position and permit of the relative opening movement of the bag frame members.

4. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch member, means for mounting said latch member upon the top of the frame member for longitudinal sliding movement including a resil- I, iently yieldable metal guide strip, said latch member having a part to coact with a complementary frame member and latch the same in closed position, and means xed to the rst frame member, coacting with said latch member at the end of its sliding movement in one direction, to angularly displace the same against the resistance of said yieldable metal strip and position said part to release the frame members for relative opening movement.

5. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch member, and means for mounting said latch member upon the top of the frame member for longitudinal sliding movement including means supporting the latch member at the end of its sliding movement in one direction for angular displacement relative to the frame member and for returning the latch member to a normal position in parallel relation to the frame member, said latch member having a part to coact in the normal position of said member with a complementary frame member to retain the frame members in closed position, and relatively stationary means on the first named frame member coacting with said latch member at the end of its movement in one direction to angularly displace the same to frame releasing position.

6. In combination with a bag frame member, a metal trim strip extending longitudinally upon the top of said frame member and having a part fixed thereto and a portion of said strip being resiliently movable in the plane of the frame member, a latch member slidable upon said trim strip having means to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the frame members in closed position, and means xed to the first frame member to coact with said slide member when the latter is moved upon the resiliently yieldable portion of the trim strip and angularly displace said member against the resistance of said trim strip and release the bag frame members for opening movement.

'7. In combination with a bag frame member, a metal trim strip extending longitudinally over the top thereof and having an end portion xed to said frame member, and an end portion resiliently movable in the plane of said member, a slide member longitudinally movable along said trim strip and having means for latching engagement with a complementary frame member, and a cam lug Xed to the first named frame member, and coacting with the latch member at the end of its sliding movement in one direction, to angularly displace the same to frame releasing position against the resistance of the yieldable portion of said trim strip.

8. In combination with a bag frame member, a trim strip extending over the top of said frame member and xed at one of its ends thereto, the other end of said trim strip being resiliently yieldable in the plane of said frame member, a slide member longitudinally movable upon the trim strip and having means to coact with a complementary frame member and retain said frame members in closed position, said trim strip at each of its ends having stop lugs limiting the sliding movement of said latch member, the stop lug at the yieldable end of said strip also adapted to coact with the complementary frame member at one end thereof to hold the same against separation relative to the first named frame member, and means adapted to coact with the latch member When moved upon the yieldable end of the trim strip to angularly displace said member and the end portion of the trim strip relative to the rst frame member and release the complementary frame member for movement to an open position.

9. In combination with a bag frame member, a metal trim strip mounted upon the top of said frame member and extending from end to end thereof, and said strip having an end portion resiliently yieldable in the plane of the frame member and provided with a terminal lug adapted to coact with one end of a complementary frame member, when said trim strip is in normal position, to releasably latch the frame members against relative opening movement.

10. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch supporting element secured to the top of said frame member and having a part movable with respect to the frame member, and a latch member movably mounted on said supporting element to coact With a complementary frame member, and retain the same in closed position relative to said first named frame member, said latch member adapted to be moved upon said movable part of the supporting element for movement with the latter relative to said first named frame member to an unlatching position.

11. In combination with a bag frame member, a latch supporting element secured to the top of said frame member and having a resiliently yieldable part, movable with respect to the frame member in the plane thereof, and a latch member movably mounted on said supporting element to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the same in closed position relative to said first named frame member, said latch member adapted to be moved upon said resiliently yieldable part of the supporting element for movement with the latter relative to said first named frame member to an unlatching position.

12. In combination With a bag frame member, a latch supporting element secured to the top of said frame member and having a resiliently yieldable part, movable with respect to the frame member in the plane thereof, and a latch member movably mounted on said supporting element to coact with a complementary frame member and retain the same in closed position relative to said rst named frame member, said latch member adapted to be moved upon said resiliently yieldable part of the supporting element, and means, including said latch member, operative in such movement of said latch member, to move said resiliently yieldable part of the supporting element and dispose the latch member thereon in unlatching position.

DAVID KARRON. 

